FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 8, 2019
MEDIA CONTACTS: Carole Trottere, Rebecca Cheng and Matthew Leonenko | (516) 869-7794
Farmingdale State College’s Social Science Research Institute to Screen Town’s Documentary about the Civil Rights Movement
November 7 at 11 a.m. at the Campus Center Ballroom
Speakers include: Supervisor Judi Bosworth, & Civil Rights Activists
North Hempstead, NY – North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth, in partnership with Farmingdale State College and Distinguished Teaching Professor of Sociology Dr. Miriam K. Deitsch, are proud to announce that the Town-produced documentary Defining Moments: The Civil Rights Movement in North Hempstead, will be shown on Thursday, November 7 at 11 a.m. at the College’s Campus Center Ballroom as part of a special event sponsored by the College’s Social Science Research Institute’s Center for Social Justice. The event is free and opened to the public.
The documentary highlights the stories related to the African American struggle for equality in the 20th Century during the Civil Rights Movement in North Hempstead. North Hempstead was at the epicenter of major triumphs of human rights as well as inequalities during this tumultuous time.
“This film provides a wonderful opportunity for us to preserve the stories of the Civil Rights Movement and for the young people of today to hear a first-hand account of how these people stood up against bigotry and changed the world for the better,” said Supervisor Bosworth.
Guest speakers invited for the film screening include North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth; Marge Rogatz, Bernice Sims, Rabbi Jerome Davidson; Bernice Roberts, Dr. Hazel Dukes and filmmaker Alan Ginsberg and other participants in the film who shared their stories for the film about that tumultuous time in our Country’s history. They will be lead in a Q&A session after the film by Dr. Deitsch, who has been a member of the Farmingdale faculty since 1977. Dr. Deitsch is the Director of the Social Science Research Institute, Center for Social Justice, Center for Civic Engagement and Service and Center for Information in the Public Interest.
“I have always passionately believed that studying Black History should not be designated to the shortest month of the year, but rather should be studied and celebrated all year round, as we are doing here with the viewing of this important film,” said Dr. Deitsch. “I hope the film’s message of struggle, hope and courage will inspire the students who see it and that they will take up the cause of social equity and justice into the future.”
In addition, the film’s participants will all be inducted into the Social Justice Distinguished Scholar Academy, of the Social Science Research Institute at Farmingdale State College, in recognition of their commitment to social equity and justice.
The film is directed by NHTV Studio Director & LIXI Studios President Alan Ginsberg and was funded by a grant from the National Park Service (NPS). The 40-minute documentary represents nearly two years of research, interviews, filming and editing. In addition to the documentary, individual “oral histories” of more than a dozen North Hempstead residents who had a role in the Civil Rights Movement are available for viewing at https://www.mynhtv.com/civilrights
For information about the film event, contact the Town’s 311 Call Center at 516-869-6311.
